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Investing.com - Erste Group has upgraded Walmart (NYSE:WMT) stock rating from Hold to Buy on Tuesday. The retail giant, currently valued at $793 billion, has demonstrated strong financial health according to InvestingPro metrics.
The upgrade comes as Erste Group analyst Hans Engel reassessed the retail giant’s position in the market. Walmart remains one of the largest retailers globally, alongside Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), with a notably low beta of 0.66 indicating stable stock performance.
The analyst noted that almost half of all US consumers shopped at Costco (NASDAQ:COST) at least once last year, with 87% of those shoppers returning multiple times. This consumer behavior data appears to have factored into the analyst’s evaluation of the retail sector.
Engel indicated that sales growth is expected to weaken slightly in Walmart’s next financial year, which begins August 31, 2025. This projection represents one of the factors considered in the rating change.
Despite the upgraded rating, the analyst mentioned that high valuation based on the P/E ratio, even when compared to sector peers, is currently limiting the stock’s upside potential.
In other recent news, Walmart reported several key developments. Bernstein SocGen Group has raised its price target for Walmart to $113, maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. This reflects a nearly 5% increase from their previous valuation. Additionally, Walmart announced a multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup, aiming to enhance fan engagement through various initiatives. In a strategic move, Walmart plans to make Vizio a private-label brand, exclusively selling it in Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by the end of 2025. This follows their acquisition of Vizio for $2.3 billion last year. Meanwhile, Walmart suppliers have paused some orders from Bangladesh due to potential tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. Lastly, Walmart has recalled approximately 850,000 Ozark Trail water bottles due to laceration hazards, as reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These developments highlight Walmart’s ongoing strategic adjustments and operational challenges.
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